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Saturday, 29 April 2017

I've always been the biggest fan of bookish candles, I can never resist a candle which ties so well to a book that you've been a huge fan of, that when you light up, it instantly reminds you of why you fell so hard for that book/series in the first place. I've tried quite a few different bookish candles over the years, but being a U.K. based blogger it can be quite difficult find a decent place to order that doesn't cost a lot in terms of shipping costs. And so when I discovered Bookworm Candles and Crafts I was delighted, Danielle has really gone all out in her gorgeous designs and I love how closely she's related each candle to it's book.

Here's a bit more about Bookworm Candles and Crafts!Bookworm Candles and Craft are a UK based company that take inspiration from books and create handmade items for all you book lovers out there. They have been trading since July 2016 starting out with a small selection of products available on Etsy and just nine months later, they have a huge selection of items available for purchase and even have their own website which has just recently launched.Bookworm Candles and Crafts range is mainly focused on YA books but you will find a few different genres included. The have a huge selection of candle products featuring some of your favourite books like A Court of Mist and Fury, Throne of Glass, Shadowhunters, The Wrath and the Dawn, The Hunger Games to name just a few. They also have a large range that you can choose from such as The Moment Candles, The Feels Candles, Couples Candles, Location Candles and of course Character Candles. Most of their candles come in a variety of different sizes depending on how small or big you like your candles but they all come with signature handmade crochet bands as well. And they also have bookmarks, jewellery and many more handmade items for sale.Each month they also have a monthly box which features a different theme and includes between six to eight products. And the best thing is you won’t know what is included until it turns up on your doorstep. The seller may offer a few hints along the way though. They also release a selection of limited edition candles based on the chosen theme each month.You may have seen some of their products on some of the social media websites like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter where several reps are currently promoting their items. It’s always worth checking out their profiles as they do offer discount codes for all purchases you make. You can find Bookworm Candles and Crafts information below:

And for the month of April if you purchase through Bookworm Candles and Crafts website they are offering three sample candle FREE with ANY purchases. The chosen candles would be Aelin, Chaol, Dorian or Manon from Sarah J Mass’s Throne of Glass series. It will be a random selection but if you have a favourite put a note on your purchase and the seller will try to honour your request.

Friday, 28 April 2017

As you know, I loved the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle so I was thrilled to find out she released a new novella, After the End, FREE to her fans!! I plan on picking it up real soon. Grab your copy at the retailers below! As a special bonus Sourcebooks Casablanca is offering up a giveaway of the series as well as an Advanced Readers Copy of the first book in Katie's newest romantic suspense series: Rocky Mountain K9 Unit, Run to Ground! Make sure to scroll down to fill in the rafflecopter for a chance to win!

What happens after happily ever after? Now that the murderer
has been caught and the arsonist is behind bars, the town of Simpson, Colorado
has returned to its sleepy, picturesque former glory. Yet for the heroes of
Search & Rescue, work is never done…

…especially not if the extraordinary women if their lives
have anything to say about it.

Told in alternating chapters focusing on four unforgettable
romances, this slice-of-life novella catches up with fan favorites from Katie
Ruggle’s Search & Rescue series—proving once and for all that the end
is just the beginning.

After the End is the fun and heart-warming epilogue
novella to the exciting Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle.

And here’s a sneak peek of the upcoming release Run to
Ground below, enjoy!

Thursday, 27 April 2017

For Sierra Jones,
Sullivan's Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She's put her
troubled past behind her but the path forward isn't yet clear. A visit
with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best
option to help her get back on her feet.

Not wanting to burden
or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so
much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into
their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the
quirky campground owner who is the father figure she's always wanted.
But when her past catches up with her, it's a special man and an
adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for
a brighter future. In Sullivan's Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the
family you are given and the family you choose.

My
Thoughts:

Sierra has come to Sullivan’s Crossing, Colorado to be near
her brother Cal and his new wife, Maggie (the couple from the previous book).
Sierra has been sober for nine months and is looking for a fresh start
somewhere new, somewhere to escape the danger trailing her, as well. That
danger is pretty scary once you find out the details! Knowing she’ll get
support from Cal if she needs it makes the place all the more attractive. What
Sierra doesn’t count on is making friends, and finding love. Yet, that’s
exactly what she finds in this beautiful place.

Sierra is a character I immediately bonded with. She was honest with herself,
good to the people around her and a hard worker. I liked that she shared her
trials when she needed to, didn’t keep the threat of danger to herself, and
took the support and help offered.

Sierra definitely wasn't looking for love, but Conrad, or
Connie, turned out to be irresistible. Connie had his own romantic baggage, but
he was a big sweetheart to the core; nice and normal, exactly what Sierra
needed in a man. The pace of their romance felt just right, filled with heated,
lusty kisses at first and then more.

I was thrilled that Tom Canaday got his own romance! The
last book I was so ticked at his ex-wife, Becky, (a total piece of work) I
yearned for a woman who actually deserved him! Becky needs to take a long walk on
a short pier!Tom centered his life on
his kids, made sure he took jobs that gave him time to be there for them,
scheduled his whole life around raising them, something Becky couldn’t be
bothered with.His romance with Lola was
so sweet and I’m hoping for more in
the next installment!

I love Robyn Carr’s writing. This is her second book in the Sullivan’s Crossing
series, and I’m quickly warming up to the setting and characters. When Ms. Carr
writes a series, the secondary characters and town become familiar and
welcoming. I feel like I know these people, and each time I pick up a book it
feels like coming home. Sullivan’s Crossing is no different, and I’m happy to
get to know everyone a little more with each installment. I’ve had some great
times camping, backpacking and hiking, so Sullivan’s Crossing, a campground,
general store, watering hole, and starting point at the Continental Divide
Trail and Colorado Trail is just the kind of place I’d love to visit! Loved this story and I can’t wait for the next
installment!

Tuesday, 18 April 2017

Jasprit and I are big fans of Julie James' romances, and so we were thrilled to get our hands on a copy of her newest: The Thing About Love! We're pleased to share our reviews, an excerpt, Julie James' book tour schedule and A GIVEAWAY (open internationally-see details below) of The Thing About Love! I hope you love this romance as much as we did!

Two undercover FBI agents can hide who they are from everyone but each other in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly One Summer.

FBI
agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer
and cocky Army ranger clashed during their training at Quantico, gladly
going their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years
later, the last thing either of them expects is to run into each other
again–assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting.

For
both of them, being paired with a former rival couldn’t come at a worse
time. Recently divorced from a Hollywood producer and looking for a
fresh start, Jessica is eager to prove herself at her new field office.
And John is just one case away from his dream assignment to the FBI’s
elite Hostage Rescue Team. In order to nail a corrupt Florida
politician, they’ll have to find a way to work as a team–a task that
becomes even trickier when they’re forced to hole up at a romantic,
beachfront resort as part of the investigation. Suddenly, the heat
behind their nonstop sparring threatens to make the job a whole lot more
complicated. . .

Rachel’s Thoughts:

Jessica Harlow was one of two women in a class of forty-one
FBI agent trainees, exceptional in the academics portion, but just okay in the
physical part, making her insecure over those abilities.John had the opposite problem, being a former
Army Ranger he excelled at the physical exams and skills on the firing range,
but felt intimated by all the postgraduate degrees.At first they both really admire each other,
but their respective insecurities played a factor in putting them at odds by
the end of the class, and they left on bad terms.

Six years later, they’re both back at the Chicago office,
and assigned to work with each other; neither very excited at the prospect. I enjoyed
being in on the procedures preparing for their case, and the actual undercover
work. I was a little on edge over the inherent danger with their assignments,
especially with one of Jessica’s cases.

I liked how the past misconceptions that led to their mutual
dislike were clarified quickly, and handled early on. After that, John and
Jessica’s mutual respect grew, both admired how adept and good each were at
undercover work, and the initial attraction they felt six years back starts to ignite
all over again. Very hot! But with John leaving for a new assignment in only a
few weeks they agree to keep things simple with no strings attached.After having problems with past relationships
over the job, they’re happily surprised at the understanding and support each
one provides when difficulties come up, and they just clicked on so many
levels!Loved these two together!I was thrilled there was no unnecessary angst
or drama with this realistic romance. What originally starts out as a temporary
affair turns into yearning for more, and I was crossing my fingers they’d be
able to make things work long term.

Julie James rarely disappoints! The Thing About Love grabbed and held my attention, from FBI procedure
and casework, to John and Jessica’s past relationships and their current romance
I wanted to last forever, I was captivated.

Jasprit’s Thoughts:

I have always loved James books, her antagonistic slow burn
romances have always been favourites of mine, as she just makes them work
really well! It had been sometime since I last read a book by James and when I
heard about The Thing About Love honestly I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. Second
chance romances are another favourite trope of mine and James once again does
another great job of it in The Thing About Love. It was clear to me that there
was something between Jessica and John underneath all the snarky and trying to
wind each other up comments, although it seemed like they didn’t like one
another, I just wanted them to drop all the pretences that they had been
building these last six years and just see what could happen. Who knows maybe
it could be something more wonderful than either could have imagined. I loved
the situation that John and Jessica found themselves in, this situation really
forced them to work in close contact and try and forget any issues that they
might have had over the last six years. I knew this could be tough for them, as
they were used to continually throwing jibes back and forth, but this
undercover situation also required them to be as professional as possible. I
loved watching the development of their relationship over the course of the
investigation, the slow burn and intensity was a delight to see unravel. After
the first explosive scene between Jessica and John I wanted more right away!
And James truly kept me on my toes in the best possible way. The Thing About
Love was a nice mix of suspense and romance, as you never knew which way the
investigation would go and whether John and Jessica could finally find a way to
be together. The Thing About Love was an absolute delight to read, I loved
following John and Jessica on their investigation and the build up of their
slow burn romance. This book has definitely put me in the mood to read more of
James books right away!

Excerpt:

Steeling himself, John turned around and smiled
as Jessica approached. “Yes, Agent Harlow. How can I be of service?”

In response to his dry tone, she threw him a glare so cold it
could’ve frozen all nine circles of Dante’s Hell. Fittingly, just nine of the many
places he would rather be than stuck working with her on this investigation.

“Look, I’m not thrilled
about this, either.” Keeping her voice low, she came to a stop next to him at
the elevator bank. “I thought you were supposed to be on the Hostage Rescue
Team already.”

“And I thought you were supposed to be in L.A.”

There was a quick flash in her eyes before she shrugged off his
question. “Change of plans.”

The elevator arrived at their floor, and they both stepped inside.
She hit the button for the seventh floor, where the public corruption squad was
located. Standing on the opposite side, he pressed the button for floor five.

They faced off as the doors shut. She folded her arms across her
chest and studied him with those crystalline blue eyes that could so cleverly
mask her emotions.

As he knew well.

“We’re going to have to figure this out,” she said. “We’re supposed
to be business partners in this.”

Thank you, yes, being a professional,
he was aware of that. He took a step closer. “It’s called “undercover” work,
Harlow. If I can pretend to be a gun-buying, murder-for-hire thug, I think I
can handle playing some rich investor-type who wants to skirt a few measly
zoning laws.” Even a rich investor-type who was apparently masochistic enough
to get in bed with the likes of her.

Professionally-speaking.

“Measly zoning laws?” she repeated.

Ooh, now he’d gone and pissed her off. How nice it was, really,
that they could pick up like this, right where they’d left off.

She drew in closer, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. He was
over a foot taller than her, although he noticed that she was heightening a bit
with those expensive-looking three-inch heels she wore.

“Our target in this investigation is the mayor of the thirteenth
largest city in the United States. That’s a pretty big deal in my book.” She
gestured to his facial scruff and hair. “And while I appreciate that this . . .
Sons of Anarchy motif you’ve got
going might ingratiate yourself with the gun-buying, murder-for-hire,
organized-crime thugs of the world, that’s not quite going to fly with this
sting operation.”

“’Thirteenth largest city in
the United States?’” he scoffed. “Just how many hours didyou spend reviewing the case files last night?”

She smiled sweetly as the elevator arrived at her floor. “Enough to
get the jump on you.”

Then the doors sprang open, and she gave him a friendly wave, once
again stepping into the role of Ms. Congeniality. “So glad we got to catch up
like this, Agent Shepherd. We’ll talk again soon.”

He watched her stride confidently down the hallway as the elevator
doors closed between them.

We're giving away a copy of The Thing About Love to one Readers Den follower. The giveaway is open Internationally as long as The Book Depository ships to your country. If you live in the US you may chose to have an e-copy through US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble. Just fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Good luck!

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo MoyesPublisher: PenguinPublication Date: September 27th 2012.My rating: 5 stars.

What happened to the girl you left behind?
In 1916 French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything - her family, reputation and life - in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.
Nearly a century later and Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting's dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened...
In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most - whatever the cost.

I first met these set of characters when I read a mini story
from them in Paris For One and other stories and honestly all I wanted was more
from them straight away. Thank goodness when Ksenia told me that they had their
own full story in The Girl You Left Behind. Whereas I did find myself more
absorbed by Liv’s side of things in Honeymoon in Paris, things couldn’t have
been more different with this book. I loved Sophie’s part of the story, only a
handful of historical fiction stories have swept me away with their wonderful
story building and I’m pleased to say that this was exactly the case here when
we were given Sophie’s story in 1916. Sophie was such a tough character, with
the war going on and the Germans occupying her town, she still held her own,
people were quick to talk and make judgements, but I fully back the decisions
that Sophie made, some may say that she put her trust too much in people, but
really throughout it I wanted Sophie to get her happy ending what she rightly
deserved. At times I honestly felt like this wasn’t going to happen, with
everything stacking up against her and with the sprinkling of her story that we
were given throughout the book. I’m not going to say how things did end for
Sophie, but her story was one which utterly moved me, she was a resilient
character that easily won over my heart.

In Honeymoon in Paris I was utterly baffled, as I’d assumed
that Liv and Sophie’s stories were completely separate. But once I understood,
I loved how Moyes had weaved them together. In The Girl You Left Behind Moyes
goes into more depth about the connection between Sophie and Liv. And because
Liv and Sophie had been through so much, (right at the beginning when we met
Liv, I felt like I’d been sucker-punched in the stomach). Their stories were
really hard to take in at times, so many times I’d believed that things would
be going right for them, but only or something else to come and put a dampener
in their plans. My heart truly went out to Liv, she really did have it all to
deal with, but I loved her perseverance or fighting for what she believed in
despite nearly everyone going against her and the likelihood of her losing
everything she had in the process. I also adored the support she found along
the way in the most unexpected of places. The relationship that emerged in this
story although tinged with sadness, hope, reluctance and a lot of trust issues,
I just knew in my heart that it had a way of working itself out.

Liv and Sophie’s stories couldn’t have been anymore
different, but the way Moyes linked the stories together was majestically done.
The Girl You Left Behind was just a story that was beautifully written, it
really was a story full with a lot of heartache, and I did find myself nearly a
sobbing mess at times. But it’s a story that really resonated with me and one
which I won’t forget for a long time.

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

She's nobody's damsel in distress...Top
Parisian pastry chef Lina Farah is used to fighting for her success.
But when a violent attack shatters her security, she needs a new tactic
to battle her dragons. What better way to banish the monsters under her
bed than by inviting a sexy SEAL to tangle the sheets?

He's a professional dragon slayer...Elite
operative Jake Adams has never stayed in one place long enough to form a
lasting relationship. Lina’s fire and beauty tempt him to give her the
hot affair she craves. But her spirit and courage make him long for
more. Can he convince a woman seeking forgetfulness to dream of ever
after...with him?

My
Thoughts:

Lina Farah fought and survived a terrorist attack, and it’s shaken
her. But she’s a pastry chef for a two-star Michelin rated restaurant, and you
don’t get to that position in life without courage, persistence and drive all
of which make her determined to get past the overwhelming fear that creeps up when
she thinks of what could’ve happened.Lina would rather distract herself with the sexy American guard, Jake, stalking
her kitchens to keep her safe.

Jake is used to meaningless one night stands with his work
as a Navy SEAL, a permanent relationship has been a tough thing to pursue, but
he’s ready for a change. He doesn’t just want to be used for sex as a distraction
by Lina.Her braveness, loyalty and
beautiful spirit make him long for a future with her, but he’s not even sure
she likes him.

Jake and Lina are tentative and careful, because at first
they have trouble deciphering each other’s true feelings.I really felt for Jake, he was a total
sweetheart; a sexy, possessive, protective sweetheart and he was ready to lay
it all out on the line for Lina! I connected with him more than Lina. She wasn’t
really taking a good look at Jake, the man beneath all that hard, sexy appeal,
instead she was just thinking of a way to forget her fear.Granted, Lina was traumatized, and she did
sort through her feelings for Jake pretty quickly once she clued in. Even with
the more serious feelings Jake and Lina have, there is a playfulness to their
relationship, counteracting their vulnerabilities and doubts.Their relationship was passionate and fun, as
well!

Jake’s teammates provide some laughs as they torment him
over his obvious feelings for Lina.I
especially love the book club and Ian’s fake nerdy glasses in response to Lina’s
supposed attraction to shy, geeky guys.

As usual, Laura Florand astounds me with her writing. She delves in deep, getting right to the center
of her character’s hearts, (and mine in the process!), she writes beautifully without overly wordy and distracting
prose. Lina and Jake’s romance was heartfelt, and just so lovely!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Florand burst on the contemporary romance scene in
2012 with her award-winning Amour et Chocolat series. Her international
bestselling books have appeared in ten languages, been named among the Best
Books of the Year by Romantic Times
and Barnes & Noble, received the RT Seal of Excellence and starred reviews
from Publishers
Weekly, Library Journal, and
Booklist, and been recommended by
NPR, USA
Today, and The Wall Street Journal, among others.

After a Fulbright year in
Tahiti and backpacking everywhere from New Zealand to Greece, and several years
living in Madrid and Paris, Laura now teaches Romance Studies at Duke
University. Contrary to popular opinion, this means she primarily teaches
French language and culture and does a great deal of research on French
gastronomy, particularly chocolate. For more information, please see her
website: www.lauraflorand.com.